Air Algerie plane with 116 on board crashes into river Niger

Algiers: An Air Algerie plane has crashed into river Niger in Africa, according to Algerian media reports. 110 passengers and 6 crew members were on board the plane.

The flight took off from Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou and was heading towards Algiers.

Air Algerie earlier said it lost contact with the passenger aircraft nearly an hour after takeoff.

An Air Algerie plane. Representational photo: AFP

"Air navigation services of Air Algerie have lost contact on Thursday with AH5017 flight coming from Ouagadougou to Algiers, at around 1.55 a.m GMT, or 50 minutes after take-off," Xinhua reported citing an Air Algerie statement.

The source said contact with the flight was lost while it was still in Malian airspace approaching the border with Algeria.